Help using Character Palette and Photoshop

[v6v...@adobeforums.com]

I'm trying to copy over a specific cross (✚) character from the Character Palette to Photoshop, but when I double-click the cross it imports as another character (the box with the X through it).

<http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k156/darthsauce/mac/character_palette_cross.gif>

The layer title shows up correctly, though:
<http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k156/darthsauce/mac/character_palette_cross02.gif>

I've had prior success with characters like command (&#8984;) which initially shows up as the box with the X through it, and then I just change the font to Lucida Grande and it shows up correctly.

I'm used to being able to just do a regular copy and paste in Windows but can't seem to figure it out on a Mac. (For example, you can copy and paste those characters I included above.) Any suggestions? Thanks!

[Neil_...@adobeforums.com]

v,

What font are you using? Is this a Windows font? Are you sure the font includes that cross character? Are you sure the font is not corrupt?

Neil

[Ramón_G_Castañeda@adobeforums.com]

It sounds like the font you are using in your Photoshop document lacks that particular glyph.

To test this, try another font. Lucida Grande is a good candidate since the cross shows in your menu.

[v6v...@adobeforums.com]

Thanks for the replies. Just to give some background, I just got this MacBook from my company a week ago so I assume it's got the fonts listed at <http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1538>.

I'll start up the text tool in Photoshop which is set to Lucida Grande by default. I open up the Character Palette and choose the character. When I double-click it, I for some characters that the font changes to Myriad Pro. I try to change the font in Photoshop but it won't change to anything else.

What does it mean that Photoshop may lack the particular glyph? If the character shows up in the Character Palette, wouldn't that mean the parent font is installed and available? Do I have to somehow install fonts per application?

[Ramón_G_Castañeda@adobeforums.com]

What does it mean that Photoshop may lack the particular glyph?

Sorry, but I didn't write any such nonsense. :/

Here's what I wrote, with emphasis added:

It sounds like the font you are using in your Photoshop document lacks that particular glyph.

When I double-click it, I for some characters that the font changes to
Myriad Pro.

Must be because that particular glyph ("character") is found only in Myriad Pro.

With the Text Tool selected, draw a text box on your Photoshop document. Select a font in Photoshop's character panel making sure that font contains the glyph you want. Then, on the Character Palette of the OS ("Show Character Palette" on the Input Menu), make sure you choose exactly the same font you have chosen in the text book on your document and that such a font has your Heavy Greek Cross glyph.

Note that not all fonts have that glyph, not by a very, very long shot. Many of the Zapf Dingbats have it.

I've checked, and Lucida Grande doesn't seem to have it, nor does Myriad Pro. :/

[Ramón_G_Castañeda@adobeforums.com]

Do I have to somehow install fonts per application?

No.

[v6v...@adobeforums.com]

Sorry, I read that wrong. I checked and it's definitely Zapf Dingbats (so simple!) So I wonder why it doesn't just change the font automatically? Is this an issue with Photoshop or Apple?

[Ramón_G_Castañeda@adobeforums.com]

So I wonder why it doesn't just change the font automatically? Is this
an issue with Photoshop or Apple?

Neither. That's the way it works. The Character Palette shows you all that's available so you can choose what you need.

[v6v...@adobeforums.com]

I now realize it shows you all that's available and that you can choose what you need, but I'm wondering why it should be such a hunt to find the font that matches. I've noticed that for some apps it will automatically choose the correct font, but not Photoshop (and perhaps others, too).

Anyway, I did some searching and found that Apple did implement a workaround for this. <http://www.apple.com/pro/techniques/glyphspalette/index3.html>

"After you choose a glyph in the Character Palette, click the triangle next to the Font Variation option to expand the palette. When the Collections popup menu is set to “Containing selected character,” the palette shows you all the fonts that contain the glyph. Scroll through the list to compare them."

Thanks.

[Ramón_G_Castañeda@adobeforums.com]

That's exactly what I meant above. That's not a "workaround", that's the way it's supposed to work. :)

[Neil_...@adobeforums.com]

BTW, if you have your keyboard language displayed ("Show input menu in menu bar" as a flag, top right, adjacent to the time) you can click on it to access the glyphs palette ("Show Character Palette"), without opening Preferences.

Neil